Psychotherapist's Journal - Thoughts and Tools to Inspire Wellness in Mind and Body - by Karen Gorrin

Power of Ritual at the American Cancer Society

Yesterday I had the great privilege of leading a training for the Quality of Life team at the American Cancer Society Seattle office. I had been invited to speak about greif and loss, and to design a ritual to support the patient navigaotrs in their work with patients.

Ritual is a tool that encourages us to express ourselves though story, symbol, and action. The power of ritual, no matter how simple, is not to be underestimated. Have you ever noticed that ritual can last a moment - as in lighting a candle, or it can last for hours - with song, dance, drumming, and costumes? Ritual may be used to request a healing, honor a transformation, or communicate with the divine.

For some people, ritual is experienced as a form of prayer - a conversation with God, or higher spiritual power. Anthropologists tell us we are experiencing a revival of ritual, possibly because ritual offers an experience that can be "spiritual but not religious."

For yesterday's ritual, I carefully selected a piece of music that had recently been introduced to me by my colleagues at Mind/Body Associates International. The song, Devi Prayer, comes from the album, 108 Sacred Chants of Mother Divine by Craig Pruess & Ananda. It is a beautiful, meditative chant that I find evokes calm and serenity.

We began yesterday's ritual with a guided meditation, designed to create stillness in mind and body. Then, each participant was invited to select a river rock from a large bowl. The rock was to symbolize people the patient navigator had supported but are no longer working with, either because of recovery or death.

All About Not Knowing

“… Not knowing – the answer, the goal, or even the next step – is generally associated with deficit or failure in our culture. How then, do artists, writers, and other creative people cope with such indeterminacy, learning to live with the anxiety it produces and even coming to understand it as part of the creative process? …”

These were the opening words I shared at the Thriving Beyond Cancer: Thriving in Uncertainty workshop I facilitated last year at Harmony Hill Retreat Center. The insightful author of those words was the UCLA Fowler Museum staff from long-ago exhibit materials.

How relevant to the artist, this idea of not-knowing. How relevent to us all, as we create our lives one day at a time. One moment at a time. The perpetual blank page. The on-going creative process.

Have you ever noticed the tendency to avoid "not knowing" by placing something ontop, as a way to try and make not-knowing into the known? How does that work for you? I welcome your thoughts.

I will be offering this program again soon ... Monday, April 28. You are welcomed to attend this program at no-cost if you are a cancer survivor or a cancer caregiver; and you are physically able to move between buildings and short distances. For more information or to register, click here. Hope to see you there.

How to Lead Your Life

"If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself. The dreams will come to you." says Carnegie-Mellon professor Randy Pausch in his inspiring lecture and new book, The Last Lecture. See excepts from the lecture and Pausch's interview with Diane Sawyer below, or watch the full hour lecture as I did, by clicking here.

Upcoming Cancer Programs at Harmony Hill

It is my great pleasure to serve on the faculty at Harmony Hill Retreat Center. My experiences working with people living with cancer are consistently heart-warming. I always walk away from my time on the hill having received at least as much as I have given. What is more, the staff and volunteers of Harmony Hill are truly the kind of individuals one calls friends. Please share this information with the people you know who are living with cancer.

In case you don't know, Harmony Hill offers Cancer Retreats at no charge. You can read all about the program, philosophy, and their inspirational founder Gretchen Schodde on the Harmony Hill website.

Here are some of the upcoming workshops and cancer retreats I'll be facilitating at Harmony Hill. For their complete this of cancer programs, please visit the Calendar.

3-Day Cancer Retreat
Friday - Sunday, March 16-18, 2007
Facilitated by Karen Gorrin, Margo Walsh, and Karen Kirsch

Harmony Hill’s cancer retreats are weekend residential programs that help those facing cancer, and their loved ones, cope with the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges of cancer. Through stress reduction skills, guided imagery, daily support groups for learning and sharing, yoga, and massage, participants facilitate their own healing and restore quality of life.
Learn More >>

Thriving in Uncertainty
Monday, March 26, 2007
Facilitated by Karen Gorrin

Life after a cancer diagnosis is graduate training in living in Mystery! Nowhere has it been proven, though, that a rich life cannot exist in the presence of deep uncertainty. Learn how befriending the unknown can be the entryway into living a full, wise, and passionate life. Receive tools for turning uncertainty into possibility and adventure.
Learn More >>

Tools for the Journey
Monday, April 23, 2007
Monday, May 14, 2007
Monday June 25, 2007
Facilitated by Karen Gorrin and Melode Brewer

This one-day mini-retreat is a full day of practical resources and strategies for how to live fully despite the challenges of cancer, and includes simple movement, guided imagery, and information about healing tools and resources. A delicious Harmony Hill lunch is also included! Learn More >>